Module Identifier DSM0320  
Module Title INFORMATION SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND IMPLEMENTATION  
Academic Year 2007/2008  
Co-ordinator Dr Christine J Urquhart  
Semester Available all semesters  
Other staff Ms Tanya C Rogers  
Mutually Exclusive  
Course delivery Lecture   Introductory session held at study school  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment Coursework Report 2500 word essay equivalent  50%
Semester Assessment Coursework Report 2500 word essay equivalent  50%
Supplementary Assessment Resubmission of failed coursework elements  100%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Describe and apply techniques for identifying the strategic impact of information technology on an organisation

Describe how the costs and benefits of an information technology or information systems investment should be appraised

Explain the developement of soft and participative methodologies

Select and apply appropriate soft systems techniques

Discuss and define approaches to business process modelling

Apply business process modelling techniques and diagrams to a business problem

Explain the rationale for structured systems approaches and development of object oriented analysis

Formulate and draw a range of UML diagrams, and structured systems diagrams

Discuss the legal and ethical risks in systems procurement

Formulate appropriate procurement approaches, including consideration of outsourcing

Discuss and justify approaches to project management

Demonstrate some project management techniques

Brief description

The module covers a variety of techniques that may be used throughout the planning and implementation of new information systems. New information systems often upset current ways of working and therefore considerable emphasis is placed in the module on the techniques that analysts and users can use to help in planning for a new information system, analysing the current data and information flows and business processes so that discussion of system and process improvements can be productive. Students will compare various methodologies ¿ `recipes¿ ¿ for systems analysis and project management to help understand why systems failures occur, how they can be avoided, and how projects can be managed better, from planning through procurement and implementation to evaluation of the completed project and realisation of benefits.

Content

The content includes:
Unit 1: Information strategy, strategic planning tools, benefits appraisal
Unit 2: Soft and participative methodologies, techniques used in soft systems analysis (e.g. cognitive mapping, repertory grids, conceptual modelling), information systems philosophies
Unit 3: Business process modelling (approaches, techniques such as RIVA activity diagrams and process architecture)
Unit 4: Structured approaches to systems analysis, SSADM diagramming, object oriented analysis (principles, diagramming techniques, working with users)
Unit 5: Procurement of information systems, strategic procurement issues, standards and methods for procurement, trust and collaborative procurement, outsourcing
Unit 6: Project management risks, approaches to implementation, organisational change, user acceptance, human-computer interaction principles, training and testing, project management software, project management methodologies, project evaluation, programme management principles.

Module Skills

Problem solving Through practical work on systems analysis and business process modelling techniques  
Research skills By critical appraisal of the evidence for the factors affecting the success or failure of projects  
Communication Through practice with different methods of presenting information flows, and processes  
Improving own Learning and Performance By appreciation of their own likely preferred roles within a team  
Team work By appreciation of the factors that affect project performance, including the factors affecting successful team working  
Information Technology Through practice with use of project management software  
Application of Number Through understanding of the principles of cost-benefit analysis  
Personal Development and Career planning By acquisition of a range of practical skills that can be applied to organisational problems, appreciation of project management that can be applied to their own career planning  
Subject Specific Skills a Systems analysis b Business process analysis c Project management d Research skills  

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7